Bible as fairy tale

Since almost all this teaching is conducted under religious auspices, they should be fired. The Bible is the basic text for Judaism and Christianity. If a teacher believes bible stories are fairy tales he/she is actually working against the institution that hired him/her to its teaching staff.

Initially, yes. Anybody advocating such views should probably not be in a position to teach young children. On the other hand, and after thinking about it for a while, maybe not. It could indicate the Church fears doubt, but I think doubts eventually make us stronger in our beliefs.

Yes he/her should be fired The Bible is  the teachings of Gods words and truths, not a fairy tail.

A teacher should only be fired if he/she does not comply with the regulations set forth by the local ministry of education. If you ask me what these regulations *should* be, the partial answer is that in my opinion, public schools should teach children nothing except

1. Reading,

2. Basic math,

3. Basic computer and internet skills,

4. An overview of the political and legal system in force in their country.

Neither religion, nor science, nor arts, nor any other subject should be part of the public school curriculum. Beside the public system, there can be many private and non-for-profit schools, with different curricula, regulations and criteria for certifying teachers.

I read the article and I am utterly disgusted that this man was fired - and for what? He is teaching in a tax-funded institution, not a rectory. If people want their kids to learn religion, send them to church (or similar). If they want their kids to learn science, send them to school. And if they feel that strongly about it, send them to a private religious school. No bitching about school fees: you either take responsibility for your child's religious education, or shut up. If your kid is that bright, get them to sit for a scholarship. Otherwise, accept that public schools aren't the place for religion and get over it.

So the Christians are jumping up and down, shouting that their religion has been "denigrated". Oh, really? What about the religions of other folk there? No one else has complained. The teacher has explained that he gave no more credibility or otherwise to any one god or religion over another. I don't see Buddhists and Hindus jumping up and down when Christians condemn their beliefs.

The beauty of science is that it learns and grows. It changes as new information comes to light, and claims to know only what can be demonstrated. And when it finds that it's in error, it corrects itself. Science is about observation and understanding, and that is all. It makes no claims as to whether there is or isn't a god. It simply works with the physical. End of story. I do not understand what is so difficult, or perhaps frightening, for the religious when it comes to this. The only way science could possibly threaten a person's religion is by demonstrating reality. And if science is going to make you disbelieve your religion, then there's something wrong with your religion. If it's true, it should be able to stand up to scrutiny. So, let it stand up. Let the chips fall where they may. Or are you too scared?

The bottom line is this: people are free to teach their kids whatever they like as far as religion goes, but when it comes to a non-religious school, don't expect special consideration to be made for you. Why should other people's kids miss out on an education just because you want to remain ignorant?

The class was in Western Civilization at a community college, not "Bible Studies" at Brigham Young University.

As such, the professor should be looking at the Bible's effects on modern civilization more than its theological status.

He was completely in the right, although calling it a "fairy tale" may have been slightly insensitive. 

As a devout Jew, I believe that it's important to look at the literary status of the Bible, look at similar stories in other cultures and religions, and to understand the context of the world in which the Torah (Bible) exists.

If that means comparing the story of Noah to the story of Gilgamesh, so be it. If looking at the Bible as a literary work frightens people, obviously their faith isn't strong enough.

Depends on where they are teaching.  If they are teaching in a Christian school, and the understanding of the parents and administration is that the teachers take a tradidional historico/grammatical approach to the bible, the teacher is probably breaking their contract by teaching this.

Otherwise, if the school and parents don't care, and it's not part of the school's rules for the curriculum, I suppose that it just doesn't matter.  

The fairy tale / legend approach is just one of about five different approaches to the scriptures, but which approach a teacher is allowed or not allowed to take really depends on the school.  If you are a biblical liberal, you probably like this approach.  If you are a conservative, you probably think this approach is intellectually sloppy, if not incorrect, and probably shows an anti-Christian bias.